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We all looked at Tori. I held my breath, feeling the weight of the adults’ gazes on us, knowing we needed consensus on this.
“Since we’re already going back for Chloe’s aunt, then
Rae should be rescued,” Tori said. “And they both need to be rescued ASAP. The Edison Group might not be a bunch of vindictive homicidal maniacs, but my mother is the exception, and when we left, she really wasn’t happy with Dr. Fellows. ”
“I don’t think-” Russell began.
“Now it’s time to move on to the boring discussion part,” Andrew interjected. “Why don’t you kids go upstairs and check out the other rooms. I’m sure you’d each like one of your own. ”
“We’re good,” Simon said.
Andrew looked at the others. They wanted us out of the room so they could discuss whether they were going to help us or not.
I wanted to scream, What is there to discuss? The people you used to work for are killing kids. Isn’t this your mission-to make sure their work doesn’t hurt anyone? Stop chowing down on donuts and do something!
“Why don’t you-?” Andrew began.
“We’re good. ” It came out as a growl. That was just Derek’s I’m serious tone, but the room suddenly went very still. All eyes turned toward him, every gaze wary.
Derek glanced away and mumbled, “You want us to leave?”
“Please,” Andrew said. “It would be easier-”
“Whatever. ”
Derek led us out.
Five
IN THE HALL, DEREK turned. “You guys go see about finding a new bedroom for Tori. I’m getting more donuts. ”
Simon and I exchanged a look. As much as Derek loved to eat, the last thing on his mind right now would be filling his stomach. What he meant was take Tori and get out of here, so I can listen in on the meeting. Werewolf hearing meant he could eavesdrop from the kitchen.
“Save me a chocolate dipped,” Simon said, leading Tori and me to the stairs.
“You aren’t supposed to have-”
“Just winding you up,” Simon tossed back. “Come on, Tori. Let’s get you a room of your own. ”
As it turned out, Tori wanted to stay with me. Not that she said that, of course. She checked out the other options, bitched and moaned about how dusty they were and how it seemed she was stuck with me after all. I offered to take another one. She lit into me about being too nice and how I had to learn to stand up for myself. I decided it was time for a shower.
A shower would also give me a chance to wash the temporary dye from my hair. When we’d run away from Lyle House, my dad was told I’d done just that-run away. He had no idea I’d been caught almost immediately and taken to the Edison Group lab. He didn’t know what the Edison Group was or what a necromancer was. To him, his schizophrenic daughter had run away from her group home and was now living on the streets of Buffalo. So he’d offered a reward. A half-million-dollar reward.
I wanted to let him know I was okay. God, I wanted to. But Aunt Lauren said he was safer not knowing the truth and Derek agreed. So, for now, I tried really hard not to think about how worried he must be. I’d get a message to him as soon as it was safe. In the meantime, his reward was a problem.
My strawberry blond hair was distinctive, even more so with the red streaks I’d added before I got shipped off to Lyle House. So Derek bought me temporary dye. Black dye. I was way too pale for black, and now I looked exactly like you’d picture a necromancer: white skin and harsh black hair. Uber-Goth. But now, thankfully, the color was fading. Or so I thought.
Tori followed me down the hall, offering tips about how to get the dye out, being Miss Helpful two minutes after calling me a wimp. These days, that seemed par for the course with Tori. She’d start inching toward friendship, then remember we were supposed to be mortal enemies.
Now she was in friendly mode. “Don’t wash it more than three times or your hair will be like straw. I saw conditioner in there. Make sure you use that and let it sit. ”
“Right now, dry hair is better than black hair. ”
Simon poked his head out of his room. “You’re washing out the color?”
“As fast as I can. ”
He hesitated, the look in his eyes telling me he was about to say something he really didn’t want to. “I know you want it gone, but…Well, if we go out…”
“At this point, I’ll take house arrest over black hair. ”
“It’s not that bad. ”
Tori mock-whispered, “Simon’s thinking the Goth girl look is kinda hot. ”
He glowered at her. “No. I just want-” An impatient look at Tori, telling her to get lost. When she stood her ground, he leaned down to my ear, his fingers entwining with mine. “I know you want to get rid of it. I’ll ask Andrew to get you a better color. I don’t care what your hair looks like; I just want you to be safe. ”
“That’s so sweet,” Tori said.
Simon moved to stand between us, his back to her. “You can check with Andrew. Maybe I’m overreacting-”
“No, you’re not. I still need that shower, but I won’t try washing out the color. ”
“Good. Oh, and Derek said you were asking about self-defense lessons. How about we try that after?”
I wasn’t really in the mood for that, but he was smiling, obviously eager to do something nice for me after vetoing my hair fix. It wasn’t like we had anything better to do, so I said, “Sure. ”
“Sounds good,” Tori said. “Yes, I know, you weren’t inviting me, but we could both use the training. And, no, I’m not trying to get between you guys. I’m over you, Simon. I think you and Chloe make the most nauseatingly cute couple ever. But you can gaze soulfully into each other’s eyes another time. Right now, I need self-defense lessons. So I’ll meet you out back. ”
